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Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Philippines included in Group of Death
By MIKE T. LIMPAG
Sun.Star Correspondent
TEAM Philippines will have its hands full after getting into the “Group of Death” in yesterday’s draw of the 5th Asian Youth Girls Volleyball Championships set on May 24-31 at the Mandaue Cultural and Sports Complex (MCSC).
The RP Girls Under-18 team is grouped together with powerhouse Japan, Chinese-Taipei and Australia in Pool A, while Korea, India, Thailand, China and Vietnam are in Pool B.
“Four teams will qualify to the World Youth Girls Volleyball Championships in Macau this July. We have never qualified for it and we are hoping that this will be the first,” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara of the Federacion International Volleyball (FIVB) in yesterday’s press conference at the Mandaue City Hall.
The Philippines has never beaten the three teams in its bracket.
Roger Bansuela, president of the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF), said it is difficult to maintain a youth national team since they are not entitled to
allowances.
“You can’t expect the girls this year to practice twice a day regularly and not get something in return. And it’s also difficult to get a parents permit since these are 16 or 17-year-olds, some of whom are from the provinces,” Bansuela said.
There are currently 18 girls in the training pool and the list will be cut to 12 a few weeks prior to the tournament.
Four Cebuanas
“We are hoping the four Cebuanas in the team will make it to the final cut, though the 18 members will also be in the training pool for the Southeast Asian Games (Seag),” Bansuela said.
Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Government has spent some P500,000 for the venue’s new lights and another P100,000 for renovation of the MCSC comfort rooms.
Han Joo Eom, secretary of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, is set to inspect the venue later this week.
“I trust Suzara and I am sure we will have no complaints,” said Eom.
(April 5, 2005 issue)
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